There will be no room for big egos on the coaching staff that new St. John's coach Steve Lavin is assembling. He isn't interested in the petty politics or pecking orders.
"To get St. John's where it belongs we need people who want to be here and do whatever it takes," he told the Daily News. "This is going to be a group that pulls the oars in the same direction, that helps the program by helping each other. New York's team deserves nothing less."
He has scheduled an interview Saturday with Kimani Young, who heads the powerhouse New Heights AAU program. He has another with former Virginia coach Dave Leitao set for Monday.
Lavin is described as "a visionary" by his former assistant, Fresno Pacific coach Jim Scia. His vision for the Red Storm staff is beginning to take shape.
He wants a blend that includes the wisdom of head coaching experience with youthful aggressiveness. He wants multipurpose guys - tacticians, developers of talent and workout experts. And everybody - everybody - has to be able to recruit.
People involved with the New York recruiting scene will hold assistant positions as well as spots on the operations staff.
Lavin had a preliminary conversation with Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen and was planning to speak with him again. He also talked to Loyola (Md.) coach Jimmy Patsos, but isn't sure if Patos would leave the Greyhounds. Patsos is in talks about a contract extension.
Also in the mix are ex-Boston University coach Dennis Wolff and Mike Dunlap, a superior tactician and developer of talent out of northern New Jersey. Dunlap twice won Division II national championships with Denver's Metro State and spent two seasons assisting George Karl with the Nuggets.
A year ago, Dunlap was Lute Olson's associate head coach at Arizona. He refused the interim role when Olson had to step down last year, but remained to oversee interim coach Russ Pennell as the Wildcats reached the NCAA Tournament.
"With other great recruiters, Dunlap could be a cog in a dangerous machine," another Big East coach said.
Houston assistant Jerry Hobbie, who starred at St. Patrick High (N.J.) and Fordham, is a possibility.
Hostra assistant Van Macon has already been interviewed. Drexel assistant Tony Chiles and former Villanova assistant Ed Pinckney could be brought in for a meeting soon.
"We'll have some good combination and a bunch of young turks working in the office," Lavin said. "This is going to be like Starbucks was or some dot-com. Buy in while you can because it's going up."
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